SIMBAD references

The star BD +59°224 has an interesting history of spectroscopic classification, having been described in the literature variously as a composite G- and F-type star with helium, a K5 star, an O-type star, and an emission-line object similar to a planetary nebula. We present new spectra of this object that clearly show the star to be a binary with a K4.5 Ib primary and a B3 V secondary. We also calculate a reddening and distance [E(B-V)~0.75, d~2.1 kpc] and point out similarities between this object and the class of ζ Aurigae stars.